Monasteries and Chapels of Perth

The Dominicans or Blackfriars – Order founded by St Dominic of Spain (1170-1221). The Dominican Friary at Perth was founded by Alexander II in 1231. Wife of Robert II, Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan buried in chapel. Wolf of Badenoch did penance at Blackfriars for his burning of Elgin Cathedral. In 1396 Robert III viewed the Battle of the Clans from the ‘Gilten Arbor’ adjacent to Blackfriars. Robert III gave the Chapel of St Lawrence to the Blackfriars. Blackfriars was used as a royal lodging and for courts, parliaments and conventions. In 1437 James I was murdered in Blackfriars.

The Carmelites or Whitefriars – Riggs Road/Jeanfield Road. The order originated at Mount Carmel about 1160. Alexander III founded the monastery in Perth c1260. They held the lands of Upper and Nether Tullilum and Unthank. Last prior Andrew Young, converted to the principles of the Reformation.

The Carthusian Order or Charterhouse – King James VI Hospital to South Inch. This order was founded c1080 by Bruno at La Chartreuse on the frontier of France with Savoy in the Alps 16 miles from Grenoble. In 1427/30 James I of Scotland founded a monastery in Perth – the only one of its kind in Scotland. It was known as the House of the Valley of Virtue. Silent, white monks came to Scotland in 1425. They were recluse and solitary. Carthusian monks did a lot of transcription.

The Franciscan or Greyfriars – The order was founded c1210 by St Francis of Assisi. The Order encouraged learning and had large libraries. Lawrence, 1st Lord Oliphant founded the monastery at Perth in 1460. After the reformation the ground became the town’s cemetery in 1580.